Samuel A. Bent of Charlotte, NC passed away at the age of 66 on June 3, 2020. Samuel was born in Colón, Panamá. He was the fourth of seven children to his parents: Eunice Virginia Bent and his father Walborn Robert Bent, better known and fondly nicknamed “Wally.” Samuel began his 15-year long career as a Firefighter at Estación de Bomberos Sabanitas- Julio A. Salas, when he was 21 years old. He later worked at Estación Coco Solito Máximo Walker as well as Cuartel de Colón, Comandante Luis J.A. Ducruet. He was well known for his bravery and selflessness as he never backed away from the worst of fires to rescue those in need and he had the scars to prove it. He ended his career as a Firefighter with a respectfully earned Lieutenant ranking before he moved to the United States in 1990.
In July of 1990, Samuel moved to Long Island, New York. It was in New York that he began working at restaurants cultivating his passion for cooking. Everyone who knows Samuel Bent knows him best for the banquets of food he made for events and gatherings. Over the years and the remainder of his professional career, he grew his repertoire of culinary arts. He moved to Pennsylvania in February of 1995 where he continued to grow his culinary skills. He moved to North Carolina in July of 2001 where he settled and perfected southern style dishes. There was no meal Samuel Bent could not make. There was no meal he could not wow taste buds with. He made dishes his own with his creativity, desire to self-express through spices, and his passion for dish presentation and artistic design. Many of his meals were fusions of his Caribbean background mixed with his worldly kitchen skill experience.
With decades of knowledge from working at restaurants of different backgrounds, a love of reading recipe books, and watching cooking programs- Samuel was both professionally trained and self-taught. He was a generous man as he always welcomed people to eat at his table. But if you asked him for a recipe, you better be ready. He was a “watch and try to keep up” kind of teacher.
Samuel was surrounded by a large, blended style family for most of his life. He had his oldest daughter at 21 years old. Samuel married his first wife, Elicia Duncan on August 1, 1980. They had two children. He adopted a son at 31 years old. He married his second wife Anayansi Santamaria on March 28,1995. They had 5 children. He married his third wife Guadalupe Gonzalez Bent on September 8, 2014. He gained 3 stepchildren.
In addition to being well known as a father and the best cook of the family, his loved ones describe him as a hard worker, daring, self-less, strong, creative, spontaneous, and unconventional.
He was a lover of classical, jazz, and country music and was often found at the end of a long workday blaring his favorite songs at the time from the stereo in the living room with a drink in hand to wind down. With his children, he shared the fondness for the strategy of playing chess, growing plants, creating and building through his children’s school projects, and later in life the game of dominoes. He passed down his love of music and instruments to his children with yearlong ongoing nudges to start a family band.
His favorite holiday was Halloween. He enjoyed watching horror movies and got pleasure from decking out his home in extravagant displays that scared even the neighborhood teenagers. His home was the “must visit home” on Halloween night.
Samuel will forever be remembered for his innovative abilities, his tenacity, his daring impulsivity, and his mischievous character. His children agree they share many of these undeniable characteristics with him.
Samuel had a magnetizing quality about him that made him lovable by people from all walks of his life. He will be missed tremendously, including his unforgettable giggle that sounded quite like, “Hehehe.”
Samuel is preceded in death by his father, Walborn Robert Bent. Samuel is survived by his mother: Eunice Virginia Bent, his wife: Guadalupe Gonzalez Bent, his 9 children: Jamileth Xiomara Bent, Sheila Tayra Johnson and spouse Kenneth Johnson, Rosanny Del Carmen Crumpton and spouse Brandon Crumpton, Esperanza de la Vega, Samuel Bent, Jr., Isaac Broden Bent and spouse Lizzy Hosford, Nadab Andrew Bent, Eunice Marie Bent, and Karen Angela Bent. His 3 stepchildren: Samuel Benavides, Saul Benavides, and Nancy Benavides Ayala and spouse Fredy Alexander Ayala. His 3 grandchildren: Jose Adalberto Chancay Bent, Nayra Senai Jenkins, and Alajha Bent. His 5 step-grandchildren: Eduardo Alexander Ayala, Ryan Alexander, Benavides, Samuel Alejandro Benavides, Ximena Lisseth Ayala, Sophie Abigail Ayala. His 6 brothers and sisters: Alfred Bent, Ernesto Bent, Walborn Bent, Jr., Leonora Cadogan, Luke Bent, Pollyann Bent, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, 3 sister in laws, and many friends.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at McEwen Funeral Service-Mint Hill Chapel. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm in the McEwen Chapel. A reception will be held immediately following the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending memorial contributions to his wife, Guadalupe Gonzalez, to help with Samuel Bent’s medical expenses.
Please visit Samuel’s online memorial at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com
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